Method and device for driving a turn-off thyristor
US6191640A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/732
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for turning a GTO on and off and a corresponding driving circuit are specified. A turn-on current and a holding current are generated from voltage pulses which are converted into currents with the aid of an electric energy store. In terms of circuitry, it is particularly advantageous when the required voltage pulses are drawn from the same energy source, or the same energy store, as the pulse required to generate the turn-off current. The holding current is preferably generated by repeating voltage pulses. The repetition frequency of said voltage pulses can then be increased or reduced as required. The frequency is reduced, in particular, when the gate-cathode voltage becomes negative, and is increased again when the voltage is positive again.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.